Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1887-07-09
A GOOD TESTIMONIAL.
The Atlanta Constitution
Formerly an Anti.Pro-
hibition Paper,
SPEAKS ON THE EFFECT OF
PROHIBITION IN AT
LANTA. +

The election at which prohibition
was put on trial in this city is entitled
to place among great events. Noelec-
ton of local nature was ever before
held in city ofsixty thousand people in
which more was involved. The changes
proposed by it were SO a radical TO be
almost revolutionary. Over hundred
business houses were to be closed.
Nearly five hundred men were to be
forced to give up a chosen employment.
The city treasury was to be left with
forty thousand dollars less revenue.
Trade amounting annually to millions
was to be turned away from the city.
Many large business houses were to be
left unrented. Of course, a movement
proposing measures so radical met with
the most spirited and determined oprO-
sition. Many Of our best citizens re-
garded it with outspoken disfaVor.
1t was said that prohibition in city
SO large as this was impracticable, that
it would not prohibit. that the trade
would be injured, that taxes would be
increased, that the stores in which the
LIQUOR business was carried on would
not be rented for other purposes, that
the same amount of whisky would be
drank with the law as without it, the
city would only miss the revenue, that
it would be death-blow to Atlanta $
progress. A..z,-.l
It has now been eighteen months
since the election. and twelve months
since the law went into effect. We are
urepared thus from observation to note
results
Prohibition in this city does not pro.
hibit. The law is observed as well
as the law against carrying conceal
ed weapons, gambling theft and other
offenses oflike character. If there had
been as many people in favor OF carry
ing concealed weapons, theft, gambling,
and ETC.. as there were in favor OF the
retail of ardent spirits, twelve months
ago. law against these things would not
have been carried out as well as It was
against the liquor tlade. In consldera-
ton of the small majority with which
Prohibitionwas carried, and the large
number of people who were opposed to
seeing it prohibit, the law has been
maryeously we'll observed.
Prohibition has not injured the city
financially. According to the assessors
books property in the city has increased.
Two streets in the city, Decatur and
Peters. were known as liquor streets. 1t
was hardly considered proper for lady
70 walk these streets without an escort.
Now they are just as orderly as any in
the CITY. Property on them has advan-
ced from / to % per cent. The loss OF
forty thousand dollars revenue, consc-
ouent in closing the saloons. has tended
in no degree to impede the citys prog
ress in any direction. Large approprl-
ations have been made to the water
works. the public schools the Piedmont
fair and other improvements. The
bus;nenss men have raised 100000 to
build the Atlanta and Hawkinskville
railroad. The number of city banks is
to be increased to FIVE. The coming OF
our new raiIoads has been settled during
the wear. Fifteen new stores containing
house-furnishing goods have been start
ed since prohibition went into effect.
These are doing well. More furniture
has been sold to mechanics and laboring
men IN the last twelve months than
during the history of the city. The
manufacturing establishments of the
city have received new life. A glass
factory has been built. A cotton seed
oil mill is being built worth $125,OOO.
All improvement companies with a
basis in real estate have seen theirstoc
double since the election on prohibition.
Stores in which the liquor trade was
conducted are not vacant, but are now
occupied,by other lines Of trade. Ac-
cording to the real estate men more
laborers and men of limited means are
uying lots than ever before. Rents,
are more promptly paid than formerly.
More houses are rented by the same
number Of families than heretofore.